as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
I have to psych myself up before every swimming competition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in soul
an immaterial force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power
disturbing, enigmatic paintings that seem to embody the psyche of this brilliant but troubled artist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mind
the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons
a novel that explores the psyche of a depressed teen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of psych (up)
Julian Hayes Ii,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Madeline Brewer proved adept at portraying her character’s fractured psyche, as well as Janine’s attempts to heal.
—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
Remember, Venus has everything to do with love, beauty, pleasure, values and money, while Pluto governs obsession, control, transformation, intimacy and the shadowy corners of the psyche.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Men and women in white coats drew blood, scanned, x-rayed, checked our psyche, our balance, our urine.
—
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Noun
After all, it is embedded in the human psyche to make unconscious assumptions about the people around us—for survival purposes, if nothing else.
—
Julian Hayes Ii,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Madeline Brewer proved adept at portraying her character’s fractured psyche, as well as Janine’s attempts to heal.
—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
Remember, Venus has everything to do with love, beauty, pleasure, values and money, while Pluto governs obsession, control, transformation, intimacy and the shadowy corners of the psyche.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Men and women in white coats drew blood, scanned, x-rayed, checked our psyche, our balance, our urine.
—
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for psych (up)
Verb
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In the three years between Special and Bitch, Lizzo began bracing herself for a sharp decline in public interest by creating music that existed on the outskirts of what audiences came to know her for.
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Now, as traders fear the bitcoin house of cards could be collapsing, the market is braced for the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation to cement an interest rate hike later this year.
Verb
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MonthiraYodtiwong/Getty Images Few sources of income are as legally fortified as a federal disability check.
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The Greens made a key alliance with the Triarchy to fortify its naval forces.
Verb
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The goal ended up being the last kick of the game, as the referee blew for full-time right as the USA was readying to restart the match.
-
The new Meta frames arrive as Apple readies its own smart glasses, expected late next year.
Cite this Entry
“Psych (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psych%20%28up%29. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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